Residence of Architects boulevard design concept

Residence of Architects residential complex is located in the Basmanny district of Moscow on the bank of the Yauza River, close to the Elektrozavodskaya Metro station. Cozy low-rise houses, modern construction technologies, proximity to the center of the city, an embankment—all of this makes the complex an attractive place to live, rest and meet. A boulevard goes through the complex connecting Bolshaya Pochtovaya Street and Rubtsovskaya Embankment. A design project for the boulevard was developed at the studio.

Planning solution

We start with the planning solution. Developing functional zoning. Distinguishing primary zones: the straight axis of the boulevard, green squares with active and quiet zones, the transition zone from public to private courtyard space. Determining the location of access roads for firefighters and for access to local disposal facilities. Marking on the map of pedestrian pathways those that people use to go to work, to shops, to visit each other. Underground parking is located underneath the boulevard.

The path from Bolshaya Pochtovaya Street to Rubtsovskaya Embankment is the main part of the boulevard. The geometry of paving and landscaping creates a rhythmic composition that is complemented by small architectural elements such as canopies and swings.

By the river, the axis of the boulevard opens up into the second large zone, the green square. The quiet area of the square is located next to the office and shopping center, while the active area is by the apartment building. The green square has smooth natural shapes and provides contrast to the straight boulevard all the while harmonizing with it through the geometry of its elements.

A pleasant pathway invites pedestrians to examine shops and cafés located on the ground levels of the buildings as well as to visit the office and shopping center.

Special attention was devoted to landscaping of the boulevard. The main path is decorated with lawns of cereal and meadow grasses as well as shrubs and spherical-crowned trees. The square has trees with spreading crowns are more lawns.

Identity

Design elements, paving, small architectural forms all have the same proportions, geometry, rhythm, lighting, contrast, symmetry, textures and materials. All of this creates the boulevard’s own identity.

The general architectural idea is supported by an expressive illustration, a map of Moscow made from recognizable lines of streets, rivers and roads with symbolic patterns highlighting landmarks.

An illustrated map is used in the design of canopies, tree grates, manhole covers and can be easily used on printed media.

Central arch

The dominating element of the boulevard is the arch connecting the residential complex and the embankment. It has a regular square shape and massive outlines. The rough concrete texture on the outside and thin metal lamellae reflecting in the ceiling on the inside create the effect of refraction. The central arch symbolizes the transformation and versatility, the symbiosis of simple and complex in architecture.

Canopies and swings

The central axis of the boulevard contains rest areas with canopies and swings. The composition is based on weightless slim column silhouettes that define rhythm and geometry.

The translucent cover of the canopies is filled with fragments of the illustrated map and creates a recognizable shadow pattern on the pavement. The composition is supported by trees with round crowns.

The square

The boulevard’s identity truly reveals itself on the main square. The square is covered by a translucent canopy with a map of Moscow that is repeated by shadow on the paving. Thin light columns create an effect of weightlessness and visually support the composition of small architectural forms of the boulevard.

House zone

Bicycle parking, a rest area with a bench and geometric flowerbeds are located near entrances to the buildings.

The first floors are occupied by various public establishments: cafés, shops, gyms, banks. The territory is organized accordingly: cafés have summer terraces while offices and shops have outdoor rest areas.

Quiet green square

The quiet area of the green square is designed for rest and communication. Here, people can lie on the grass or sit on the benches.

Strict paving of the boulevard smoothly turns into a lawn and dissolves in it. White balls and cubes are scattered on the lawn, their concise forms effectively complementing the overall composition.

The red brick road leading to the office and shopping center breaks the straight structure of the boulevard and serves as a beautiful accent.

Loud green square

The active zone of the green square contains a sports and play ground with outdoor trainers, a climbing wall and a round structure with a rope net for climbing. The strict black and white color scheme of the sports equipment is broken with bright yellow benches and red-leaved trees. The pattern of the soft surfacing matches the overall geometry.

Canopies as visual borders

Public and private spaces are visually separated by canopies on thin columns. Public areas also contain Besedkus gazebos painted with a themed pattern.

Paving pattern

The pathway along the central axis of the boulevard is paved with an original pattern, an abstract geometry of plot plans. The image is created with paving slabs of different textures and sizes.

Navigation

The navigation system uses the same shapes, textures and volumes as the architecture of the boulevard. Elements are made of materials most commonly used by architects including concrete, wood and metal.

Entrances to the boulevard have navigation steles, monolithic concrete slabs with a concrete map of the complex and a metal logo.

A concept of building number plates was developed to help residents quickly find their way on the boulevard. Light concrete numbers are placed on a dark background while dark metal ones are placed against light stone surfaces.

Sign placement rules

The ground floors have continuous stained glass glazing with stemalite inserts at the top. Signs mounted above doors have to adhere to certain rules.

The signs are located behind glass panels which automatically limits their size. Large signs are simply not needed on a pedestrian boulevard.

Placement height is the same for all signs and is chosen to make sure the signs can be easily read from the pathway.